As your blog reach increases, you will find more and more offers and requests in your email inbox. People will ask you for all sorts of things, like for you to cover their new product, to do a giveaway or product review, to try out new blog software or technology, to do a link exchange, or many others. Before you say yes, do your research and check them out (via their website, by Googling them, by asking friends or Crafterminds, etc.), find out as much as you can about what the deal details are, and don’t forget to do a quick gut-check to see how you feel about the offer. These are just a few quick suggestions, but we talked about these and more in today’s #crafterminds chat.

Here are some Tweets from today:

As your blog grows, you will start getting emails from people you don’t know asking you to do things

@infarrantly: If you get a request from a company you don’t know. Always check them out before agreeing to anything

A large numbers of requests you will get are just worthless: unrelated product review (or PR) requests, link exchanges with an unrelated site, offers for guest-posting from an unrelated site.

@SouthernRhoda:Link exchanges want something for nothing. They want to use your influence for their small site.

You will feel flattered when you get requests from people, but that doesn’t mean you are obligated to accept.

When in doubt, say no. Especially in situations where they want you to give your content away. @dollarcraft: I have even said no to legit offers because I wasn’t sure at the time if it was right for me.

Some requests are legit, but don’t work out. (Things like magazine article interviews aren’t a sure thing). Be cautiously optimistic when you get these kinds of offers! Wait until it’s a sure thing to announce it.

@SouthernRhoda: Sometimes I will do a review/giveaway for a well known company for free, but you have to choose wisely.

@infarrantly: I choose my offers wisely. I want my audience to believe it when I say I love something.

When the company is legit, you still want to make sure the offer is right for you.

@shabchiccottage: Even if I know it’s good quality from a good company, and it fits with my niche – I don’t do reviews for products I don’t need

Sometimes doing a post in exchange for free product is great. If it is product that you want.

Determine where you are with your blog. Maybe getting free product to create with is perfect for you at this point.

@infarrantly: What my time was worth as a beginning blogger and now are different. it will change and morph as you grow and gain influence

@crafterminds: What is your time worth? Are you looking to build a relationship with that company?

@SouthernRhoda: I will only accept giveaways/reviews if it is a great fit with my blog niche. Ignore the rest.

@crafterminds: Sometimes it’s worth it to do something for less than your normal amount if you are looking for long term relationship.

@dollarcraft: When someone asks me to review a $25 product for free, I spend at least 3 hrs using, reviewing, photographing, writng about it

@crafterminds: Don’t lose sight of how much time and effort that request will take. Make sure it is worth the time away from your family.

@dollarcraft: Sponsors sometimes want more than just a review. They may ask for tweets, FB shares, other extra work.

To make your own opportunities, approach smaller companies that you love but you don’t see doing as much in social media, see if they need help.

@miscellaneaarts: If you do a paid review, do you feel like you’re being authentic/honest with your readers?

Pay rate: @LaraEllieG: TV adverts change $ depending on demand, time of year, show. You can do that too. Depending on company,product It’s your blog.

No matter how big you are, not all companies will be knocking down yr door. If you find a co. you like, make up a proposal.

A media kit can be one page long, it does not have to be huge or complicated.

@infarrantly: A media kit is a must. Make it professional with info about you, your blog, stats and companies you have worked with.

If you do promotion for a company, try to keep stats. Make the URL to their site trackable so you can see how many clicks. Track with http://bit.ly

The more sponsored stuff you do, the more obligations you have!

@InterweaveNews: We never want bloggers to give a positive review to a book if they don’t sincerely like it. Donate it to your library instead

@dollarcraft: I try to always think of my readers before I accept an offer. Is this relevant to them? Do they like this sort of thing? Sometimes I am not sure if readers will like something, so I try it to see. Sometimes I am surprised at what is a success. You can always poll your readers and ask them about specific types of posts (do they want reviews, giveaways?)

@infarrantly: I get a lot of press releases hoping I will do a post 4 them. My editorial calendar is set. I am protective of my posts.

Make sure to disclose any paid posts, or free product you receive. You can generate a site-wide disclosure policy at DisclosurePolicy.org and individual post disclosures at Cmp.ly